ICNC Chapter 2

Kyrus, having returned late fd2ac76cfe to his manor the c472723765 previous night and sought 9d8dc79a69 sleep, opened his heavy 8f7108f8ad eyelids early the next c45a13bdf8 morning. His head throbbed, his 10c237b0d1 thoughts tangled; it was 512c31ef0b one ofthosefamiliarly complicated feelings that e0e34552f8 always followed an interrogation. He hastily edee0a8a08 stuffed his d92ebc3e8f pipe with bed3d77782 tobacco, lit 36e92f1244 it, and 9d02656964 inhaled deeply, 5aff02948f the smoke 9df0bb3e6c filling his 099161d7cc lungs.a6553c33fb6ab43a

“Haah…”4f09901e7ef0206f

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With just a 6ac3216092 few exhalations, the 234211a496 room quickly filled 50f1c31e7f with acrid smoke. His stomach, 1a04d697c9 empty of 7fe0891580 food and be6ac39bb8 water, filled e7dfefa305 with tobacco f18ec71887 smoke, a acf91b4fb2 tingling sensation 13688b91db spreading through 29caef3b41 him. Kyrus lowered his gaze.  4dc8f06ae2202b77

That’s better. b43a41e4ed89760f

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This was undoubtedly due to yesterday’s official duties.d7aed6a20b251d5c

Those damned Cassis—the kingdom’s term for sorcerers and witches—ever since a large group of them had been hauled into the Inquisition chambers, Kyrus hadn’t slept properly. Whenever Cassis, of all people, was captured, he would grit his teeth and focus solely on his work.0d78348ee68351fa

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No matter how they clenched their jaws and endured the torture, their end was always the same: ‘A slightly easier death, or a death prolonged by agonizing resistance.’ ad9fd7abb70382d7

So why did they 1785bb5489 struggle so vehemently? bf43b71c2304fb77

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Those who defied their e38c228a79 fate, resisting for hell, 1380871a6b were best dealt with 8669c59086 by being subjected to 6a1f28bfaa even more potent instruments e4523858c0 of torture. As they teetered on cc73d52a06 the brink of death, e93cefbf2c confessing their sins to 40a5bbe70d God, a subtle thrill 19229eac6e of joy would course 6b9caa4836 through him.f2c7868e3345d7c2

But afterward, the c78950c5ea unsettling nightmares always 98d54552d7 crept inside him.81db43a0bbb5d1d8

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At the age of eighteen, upon his coming-of-age ceremony, Kyrus had received his knighthood. With the kingdom’s war of conquest coinciding with this event, he volunteered for two years in the royal army, bearing the banners of Cornwall and God. 8df738dcee3badad

That must 54557280e3 have been 4ca8fb4d6a the reason 6a333a8053 why witnessing d83aba49aa blood spilled e1f372b373 from a 6f11df4eee human body 130570f916 was as c9cdc32acd easy for e8f9968643 him as d694b49752 eating and 292d4d8ed9 relieving himself. In fact, wielding his ab95a93afd sword in a frenzy, c9d42fb3ce severing the heads of 4ba3878644 his enemies in the bd2368bc68 name of God, even 9231be1dbe served to quell the 7680d694b5 deep well of suppressed 697320cc94 emotions within him.cc784cc186192679

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Was it because 0e802a1e82 of the abundance fb3d5c9464 of enemy blood a7ef7128df staining his sword, d910b4af78 or simple perhaps 61a440b425 the good fortune 1e5963ed4c of his parentage? 0c24a419442b3ff0

He attained the title of Marquis at an unexpectedly young age. Upon his return, much had changed. His father, having risen from Bishop of provincial Nosham to Archbishop of the capital, Rioc, held all wealth in his grasp, reigning supreme over the kingdom. And it was this father who had placed him in the “kennels.” 0ca0c358f8c111ba

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In the end, he intended to utilize Kyrus’ anger and rage, and to do so in secret.78f1fb965cea689e

Haah… a 7a11bf9f66 hidden illegitimate 520d619a17 child like 362021a86f me, becoming b79221b280 the adopted b376ca79cb son of a3c81cfd60 a father c13906f93c as high a95d0e8653 as the b40de13a63 heavens. 85caa45487d793c9

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At this a9daf79972 point, he 4ae9f514e6 was less 14cf6ca057 a servant fbd023f102 of God d6361d7a2b and more 40b66eb778 a servant 05bf99a6e2 of his a915939668 father. In this precarious kingdom, 8f6da763c0 his father was as 3c7e86add6 good as God.5f0782d2fc330808

Since he already knew his father’s will, there was no reason to refuse. The destruction of the Cassis, his mother’s murderers, aligned with his long-held desire for revenge.cd90e9d777975f0d

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“Your Excellency, c2a0278fa4 a letter c2a165671d has just 7deb99a53b arrived from c21306e240 the Royal 398747ec6d Palace.”1623c627bcb7fd70

“Leave it there.”1ae39c9e2ac210c1

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Lost in a vain reminiscence of the past, Kyrus glanced indifferently at the letter on his desk that the servant had given him. Turning it over, he saw the princess’s seal on it.82deda0ab4e04eff

“Damn it.”fb49dc67141eb1bb

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He immediately cebf8d3c89 extinguished the ad869694a9 pipe he 14bfb5121c was holding. His furrowed brows smoothed, 67cef34f8f and his eyebrows shot 8faa90120b up sharply in surprise 8892640d71 as he realized the d180b84b8e sender was his fiancée. c2bd979e41ce630f

What could 8e94c7e505 it be? How many 27c18eee10 times has 2aaa10de14 she sent 5593976b19 me a 9aff6b237c letter during f80915d5f8 our engagement? A handful at 19bd3c15fa best?ec9cea8fd68fcad3

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Strangely, it was intriguing 7cd6279ee9 and piqued his interest b2ea9366da enough to jolt him 23d9d405e2 awake.818245c01e62f90e

Was it ef93d799f8 because their e7c49f99d9 wedding was 7bb03a70c8 approaching that 7026e22225 she was 1c82c392da showing him beabf15d8d even the 663c374579 slightest interest 59e968839e as his 59bda5782c fiancée? Was she trying to 6160006797 appear favorable to him ad80dd7401 now? ee02dfa74227727f

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Well… if d9e958e8b3 that’s the d61285d899 case…dc5dc3e33ce31cdd

With a derisive f0c856bdb2 smirk, Kyrus rose 4a3e61b3fb and unfolded the 794d5ebb6b letter with his d4dc2260a2 long fingers that, 8e8a008a57 contrary to his c4d1aa5fd1 inner turmoil, moved 9cb1c1ea68 with deliberate leisure. He meticulously used a c3978efd8a paper knife to cut cb40df81cd through the red wax 2e44c57fba seal. Even this small 9e16544369 gesture was precise c5897a2449 and perfect, like 16474d9753 the wielding of 3a4c35f197 a blade.cdc22a5359de22d4

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 20a8b22e22890e7f

Marquis Rochford,490a15849f678f20

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I have 5f9055ed4a heard that 9accd0e26c you are d2f2d39ab3 free from 9307d25f8d official duties 58af400c1e today. I have an d9168a6e35 urgent matter to a66d2426f4 discuss with you. I will a91ff7f5d8 come to f9e717b8a8 see you 18476e2669 in person.6fb8443b58a2a01a

Eleanor Gloucester2898a912dadb798e

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 3cf19f5c49911ea7

“Ha!” ebd24f7b12f63170

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Kyrus let a7e61ad7f8 out a 20dfbfe57c short, dry 7a321c450d laugh as 0721c6f976 he scanned 55a3e2a873 the extremely 14f9f0b479 short letter 933f34fcc9 up and f20754f467 down. bae0c130803966fd

Anyone could see that this was hardly the kind of letter one expected from the woman who’s supposed to be his “fiancée.” He hadn’t anticipated a sweet, tender confession of love, but her tone was remarkably businesslike and dry. In any case, she was a remarkable woman, always exceeding his expectations. f52e727b217751b9

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If anyone were to cb2a3b9c6a read this, they would f3c7e16e6b think it was from 08b2527f72 a vassal, not a 993ffff41c fiancée.ef9558e1ace914ae

And she’s coming to see me? The high and mighty princess is gracing my manor with her presence? That incredibly polite, hypocritical… If there’s a meeting to be had, it’s this “hound” who should be the one to go to her.2fb160a6b73a2383

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He couldn’t pinpoint the source of his strange anger, but one thing was clear. The irritating feeling that had settled deep within him was largely due to the oh-so-loving letter that she had sent him that morning. e37ef5bfcc03d505

Kyrus ran a 8813595c01 hand through his 1cd26709ad sleep-mussed hair and 93400c6bfb stood up abruptly 6a75e9e9ea when a thought c9a21f7ecd struck him. 8c86617b890d376f

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Ah… there’s f66c809f7a one thing 4d44dbd203 missing from e5563f7b69 this heartfelt 8f2be6d1c4 fiancé performance!77d15662c165886a

Flowers. She’s hardly the type to be swayed by such gestures, but…no woman could dislike them entirely.e3020ea7b96b6118

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Kyrus quickly ordered his e673cf7bce servant to prepare a cded731dce bouquet, a rather pleased b9fc388f3a expression spreading across his 9445a6ce38 face.5a582d3ad9079efb

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───adfba6cfbad1e858

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“Your Highness, how about this dress? You’re going to meet Lord Rochford. That dress is a bit…”be3cfee234f06f21

Despite her 76c9b3ddb8 maid’s disapproval, d7f3c070db Eleanor tossed bf2872f252 her long, e270417870 dark hair, 1b1e50aed3 which nearly 0ff91f6473 reached her 02d9b400f0 hips, over 81f3f6d1f6 her shoulder 3028954e20 and replied 500e1659d9 indifferently, 93a0030105679d36

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“No, it’s even more important today.”8dbf376295f2aadc

She selected 50161c5748 a darker, 50cbe79472 more modest be2b9d0d80 dress than fb36c5e3ff usual, smoothing 073783433a it with e68f3e1730 a satisfied 58a6e9f5c2 expression.0e7631852d6c2546

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“Why, Your Highness?” d75a39b34d04dab7

Seeing the princess’ d8972a1261 silent and resolute c7c9c8ea33 face, her maid, 39ee350091 Charlotte, closed her b59db7f613 mouth as if 497bab9d18 she had asked 81cc4da5e8 a pointless question. No one could f39f5df924 sway the princess’ ecc0e5c20c stubbornness, which was 294a8ac84c nothing new. In the end, 76d38d22da Eleanor donned the 7c5457d5f2 dress she had 4926cbcee5 chosen, the fabric 4225d33edc tailored to her 267b155f1e frame perfectly.423f645365639f1a

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The ample eef5fbb95f curves of e56ef8d057 her breasts, 1960eb73e2 disproportionate to bf79f87959 her petite b9b6eff71f frame, were 54134f7266 flattened and 896408698d concealed by b02b7d956f the fabric. Her straight collarbones 71606927d9 and slender arms, 38ab79e69d which might have 77f66ac304 stirred a man’s c6e0d3d471 protective instincts, vanished 1dbe557195 beneath the long dbbdbd4120 sleeves of the e3ca53d115 dark green satin 76ceeb266c dress. The only visible c9936bd034 curve was her 554cdc70be slender waist, accentuated 13b9a5952d by the fitted d844cec3dc bodice.d91ee8547f1d6c6b

Although she e3206d0d1a usually allowed 429a6e6ae4 her maids b3e460eb6a to apply 13c7015d3f makeup on a504ed1b39 her face b038742f86 freely, today, b4606e4e6e even that 0d2574d5a4 was kept d4a843fca1 minimal. She didn’t cd1483bf7b even apply 3650b62682 the red f4734c95e0 lipstick that 992ddf9c39 usually highlighted 6bb7bb9668 her pale 5c1cdbbabb complexion, which 51050ea61e her maids a60b73de39 found baffling. 2d439e4578bfd6b3

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She could 5df90cce97 be so 0fde27c4a5 breathtakingly beautiful fcff4f5d59 with just a7b431e9e7 a touch 5d5785d741 more adornment. So, why…? e9d5ab2baefc57ec

Despite their fbc8b52cc5 protests that 5a9da52cde her pale a5bef35597 lips made 47a93cd643 her look 787317def1 ill, the 6f04fc0e61 princess remained dcd6b28486 firm. 9c5dd33636320a06

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‘Yes. This is perfect.’d917f81a774e06fd

Eleanor gave a 4533016180 faint smile as e5d4911d4a she looked at 9b159badba herself in the d29ac986cc mirror one last bc5879701b time.97fa24bbbb307353

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“Shall we go?”b31b25b99e75ff06

Just as ab360c2a3c Eleanor was eb0801b34e about to 7ea7e1d288 leave her ebe3ffda93 chambers, a 1c5105f424 servant rushed 6f04fd9ec1 in with d79dd2238e news.f9510c99582d9099

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“Your Highness, Marquis Rochford has arrived and is waiting for you.”c62b082503b571fc

“…What?”ccf22e5cddb9c805

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Eleanor’s face hardened at the unexpected news of her fiancé’s arrival. However, she quickly composed herself and headed towards where he waited.0e68e14f9fc979c1

The muscular man with golden hair immediately caught her eye, sitting with an impeccable noble posture in the audience chamber of the princess’ palace. Kyrus, who had been waiting for her, rose swiftly as soon as he saw Eleanor.4fbfa802e07c1cb7

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“Marquis Kyrus Rochford, presenting myself before Her Highness, the First Princess.”6e05ecadba310eca

He took her 8a42e3153f hand with utmost c9d9f09cab courtesy and kissed ba1fcbe035 the back of 125ed43b68 it.92f82b811d94558c

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“Lord Rochford, e34ebe7da4 I sent abbb231639 a letter d542c95fdf sayingI would come 56b5fd5dcd to visityou. Why are you here?”41483ceffe448a38

“Surely, there’s 95e9739676 no need 7b5553be3a for Your f31a3ccc92 esteemed Highness 6280206b67 to trouble a07855fb77 yourself to 34ef1fb2bf come see 9bfc41f30e me.”a363ca4f497d718a

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“…”8866883ccf826965

“If you wish f21542e364 to meet, it e8562949ae is my duty 2a6b90e429 to seek you 9be8831f1e first.”306d38a5e32792e9

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Kyrus presented 16487b6bb0 her with a7e6c626b6 the gorgeous e4f6a6c8eb bouquet of 31d1b00ab7 flowers he 625448df45 had placed 014fdddab9 on the 74e277f58e table.fbb2d53b535a47c9

“White roses, a 147fedeb0d symbol of purity 98fd987a71 and respect. I’ve always thought 8533c7bc4a of Your Highness 9216c1be85 when I see eee9d32b15 them, and I’ve d94d41454e longed to give 562580f400 them to you. Today, your serene elegance d6bfb29a65 shines like these white 409ed32dce roses.”0e2cef153336eb28

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Kyrus flashed a charming 16826ec7a1 smile, his handsome features a4a3731bb2 softened by the expression.34b97079e29423c4

Eleanor inwardly shuddered cf9b528a6c at that shallow 07b514d779 smile. 321fe08685cd2309

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Just what is he up to…? Am I even capable of handling something like this? I didn’t even bother with makeup today, and yet he spouts these flattering lies just to gain my favor.33975cf488b60335

“Thank you.”03af907c5fa12065

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However, as if to defy his performance, the bouquet was unceremoniously handed over to a maid without so much as a glance. Kyrus’ expression instantly cooled.c81f1e6957b684ac

“Then, since you’ve come all this way, Lord Rochford, shall we get down to business?”da28f163474be505

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At the mention of “business,” a subtle furrow appeared between his handsome brows, but Eleanor ignored it, taking a short breath. She had rehearsed this moment countless times, carefully choosing her words.4eda9e9048e4cf0d

“Yes. I am eager 629e5cd217 to hear what d9cb8f6fef words will grace 95295da876 your lovely lips, bb00aef74e Your Highness.”6fdd57124e67af47

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You’ll regret those words d95f374e81 soon enough.47d48fcb2dc211eb

Eleanor, seemingly resolute, e8dae03183 bit her lower 7aba75f712 lip and paused e65a624c6d for a long bbee4e6bd8 time before speaking.5d634041f79b61aa

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“I wish 6b795aae91 to break 5c05b71445 off our f2bdf6b0b2 engagement.”2c614a171baf44ff

The princess’s firm declaration struck him hard. 876f93ac664a5316

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Kyrus’ eyes, usually unwavering and sharp, shook violently. d78079612852f4d6

That cold, arrogant man, seemed so easily shaken by my words? Still, I can’t let my guard down. This isn’t over yet. I have to find a way to escape that snake completely.e6ef73e9c3d8a4dd

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“…Did I mishear something 7d86363332 just now? Break off… 08c95969c4 the engagement?”795c3383b3cb22a1

“No. You heard a8fb910cc3 me correctly.”74e184c15082a14f

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Kyrus reeled from the shock, the force of it nearly knocking him off his feet. This was most definitely not part of his plan. However, he couldn’t back down now. He calmly erased the look of bewilderment from his face.4dbcb7f517c86ed3

“So suddenly… Your c8e9b2dfd4 Highness, what is dce9c794f8 the reason?”4db054d4b1405220

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“I apologize, c3944bc73f Lord Rochford. This is not c80ed7d264 just my decision, f32981e404 but also something 9d3c04cd64 that His Majesty 0d27371faf has approved. I recently received 7309d62289 a… concerning diagnosis 6cad9946ec from the royal ddb3a8b06e physician.”531ffa4ab756e1d1

“What do you mean? Weren’t you in good health, Your Highness?” 000e52cff9513df3

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Now that he thought about it, the last time he’d seen the princess this close was a month ago. Perhaps her unusually delicate appearance today was due to her pale complexion.624e05846c128a7e

“The physician informed me that while my condition isn’t fatal, it may make it difficult for me to fulfill my wifely duties, including… conjugal relations and producing an heir.”aa5746d4bc2c940e

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Kyrus was speechless, stunned into silence as he listened to the princess’ words.29f36df8f89a81df

“So I thought… it would be best to humbly accept this fate as God’s will. I’ve decided to live my entire life unmarried, as a daughter of God. I intend to enter a convent as soon as His Majesty shows signs of recovery.”40868497552f0d39

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